Ben Franklin: The Whistle

Breakdown:

When I was a child of seven years old, my friends, on a holiday, filled my pocket with coppers. I went directly to a shop where they sold toys for children; and being charmed with the sound of a whistle, that I met by the way in the hands of another boy, I voluntarily offered and gave all my money for one. I then came home, and went whistling all over the house, much pleased with my whistle, but disturbing all the family. My brothers, and sisters, and cousins, understanding the bargain I had made, told me I had given four times as much for it as it was worth; put me in mind what good things I might have bought with the rest of the money; and laughed at me so much for my folly, that I cried with vexation; and the reflection gave me more chagrin than the whistle gave me pleasure.	This talks about how his pockets were filled with money and how he went to buy a whistle. He brought the whistle everywhere and blew it constantly. It then talks about how he was overcharged for the whistle and then Ben becomes sad and it overtakes the fun of the whistle.
This, however, was afterwards of use to me, the impression continuing on my mind; so that often, when I was tempted to buy some unnecessary thing, I said to myself, Don’t give too much for the whistle; and I saved my money.	This event thought him how to be more careful with his money and instead of buying unnecessary things he saved his money.
As I grew up, came into the world, and observed the actions of men, I thought I met with many, very many, who gave too much for the whistle.	He talks about growing up and people things that are useless and overpriced
When I saw one too ambitious of court favor sacrificing his time in attendance on levees, his repose, his liberty, his virtue, and perhaps his friends, to attain it, I have said to myself, This man gives too much for his whistle.	He talks about a man he sees that is sacrificing things to get "the whistle"
When I saw another fond of popularity, constantly employing himself in political bustles, neglecting his own affairs, and ruining them by that neglect, He pays, indeed, said I, too much for his whistle.	He talks about another man and how he neglects his own affairs and pays to much for his whistle.
If I knew a miser, who gave up every kind of comfortable living, all the pleasure of doing good to others, all the esteem of his fellow-citizens, and the joys of benevolent friendship, for the sake of accumulating wealth, Poor man, said I, you pay too much for your whistle.	Same thing
When I met with a man of pleasure, sacrificing every laudable improvement of the mind, or of his fortune, to mere corporeal sensations, and ruining his health in their pursuit, Mistaken man, said I, you are providing pain for yourself, instead of pleasure; you give too much for your whistle.	Same thing
If I see one fond of appearance, or fine clothes, fine houses, fine furniture, fine equipages, all above his fortune, for which he contracts debts, and ends his career in a prison, Alas! say I, he has paid dear, very dear, for his whistle.	Same thing
When I see a beautiful sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured brute of a husband, What a pity, say I, that she should pay so much for a whistle!	This is a metaphor for paying to much
In short, I conceive that great part of the miseries of mankind are brought upon them by the false estimates they have made of the value of things, and by their giving too much for their whistles.
Yet I ought to have charity for these unhappy people, when I consider that, with all this wisdom of which I am boasting, there are certain things in the world so tempting, for example, the apples of King John, which happily are not to be bought; for if they were put to sale by auction, I might very easily be led to ruin myself in the purchase, and find that I had once more given too much for the whistle.	Life lesson about paying to much for your whistle. But the whistle means much more than a whistle.
Adieu, my dear friend, and believe me ever yours very sincerely and with unalterable affection.

Summary: This story is about how his pockets were filled with money and how he went to buy a whistle. He brought the whistle everywhere and blew it constantly. It then talks about how he was overcharged for the whistle and then Ben becomes sad and it overtakes the fun of the whistle. This lesson teaches been not to waste money on unneeded things. Ben reflects on how he sees people paying to much for their whistle. The whistle represents much more than a whistle it represents people that was their time with the wrong mates and people who participate in drugs. Ben feels bad for these people and wishes better for them because they have not learned their lesson of paying to much for their whistles.

Personal reflection: I believe that this story goes way beyond the meaning of a simple whistle. It shows many examples of peoples everyday lives and how they are wasting their money, hence paying to much for their whistles. Overall I believe in the meaning behind Ben's story and i can see how people really do waste their money. I believe that "The Whistle" was a great, easy story to comprehend.

"When I see a beautiful sweet-tempered girl married to an ill-natured brute of a husband, What a pity, say I, that she should pay so much for a whistle! "
This shows a example of how Ben compares people to the whistle. The whole story is based on people paying to much for their "whistle". Paying to much for your whistle can be anything that is a waste of time